Meet the Anime-Loving, Braces-Wearing Model Ruling Instagram

The Instagram age could find no better representative than Sahara Lin, the rising star model and online star. Already a regular presence in the work of hip image-makers like Harley Weir and Petra Collins, Lin’s refreshing online presence and personality have struck a chord with indie magazines and brands like Calvin Klein. A grown-up beauty with braces who hails from both Wales and Brooklyn, Lin is a study in contradictions and offbeat cool. Here, the five things you need to know:

Her selfie game paid off—she was discovered on Instagram. “Honestly, it all happened so randomly! I was scouted on Instagram by the amazing photographer Fumi Nagasaka. She reached out to me because she was shooting an editorial for Dazed & Confused and asked me if I would be interested. I did not hesitate to say yes!”

She knows her animation, from Studio Ghibli to Disney.“I absolutely love everything Hayao Miyazaki creates—Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro—he has created such an amazing world with his films and brings the fantasy to life for me. Some of my favorite classic animated films include Yellow Submarine and Fantasia—I could watch these over and over again and discover new things about the film every time I watch. I’m also a sucker for old Betty Boop and Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons. All these animations have something I admire about that—the drawing style, the creatures, the imagination, and most importantly the creativity of it all!”

Braces are the best accessory.“In three words I would describe my style as thrifty, retro, luminescent! Braces are a cool silver accessory—it’s like having your own personal set of permanent grills!”

She’s passionate about increasing funding and research for special education in schools. “I have dyslexia and dyscalculia, an arithmetic disability. I went to a specific school for kids with learning disabilities because the public school system did not offer good resources for special-education children. Special-education resource improvement is something I feel strongly about, and hope our government will focus on more developmental resources for kids that struggle with these disabilities.”

The best part of modeling? Meeting creative people behind the scenes. “From hair and makeup to the photographers and even the assistants—I am always meeting such inspiring people on set, most of whom I may not otherwise have had the chance to meet.”

Her mother is her hero.“My mother, Choichun Leung, is an amazing visual artist and an inspiration for me every single day—she is my true hero! I also love and respect the works, thoughts, and ideas of Frida Kahlo.”

She grew up splitting her time between Brooklyn and Wales.“Wales is a magical place, full of nature and mythological history. You can walk into a pub, and they will have established signs dating back from 1451 AD over the door! Castles and druid circles are everywhere. There is so much greenery, the air is so crisp, and the people are lovely. Brooklyn is the complete opposite—it’s full of buildings, different neighborhoods, and people from all over the world. I love the creativity of the place and people here. It can be gritty sometimes, but that’s what I love about it.”